Category: Youth

Voting rights for the young

(Speech by the Parliamentary Leader, DAP Secretary-General and Member of Parliament for Petaling, Lim Kit Siang, in the Dewan Rakyat when moving a motion to introduce a private members’ bill to introduce legislation to lower the voting age from 21 years to 18 years on October 16, 1978)

I rise under Standing Orders 49 to move a motion to seek leave of the House to introduce a private member’s bill intituled the People’s Representation Act 1978 to lower the voting age from 21 years to 18 years.

At present, under Article 119 of the Malaysian Constitution, a citizen is eligible to be a voter only when he reaches 21 years of age. The Constitution was drafted 21 years ago, when there was considerable distrust of youth. Continue reading Voting rights for the young

Concerned about the sharp increase in the incidence of violence among youths all over the country.

Speech by DAP Secretary-General and Member of Parliament for Kota Melaka, Lim Kit Siang, to the DAP Youth Council Meeting at Petaling Jaya on Thursday, 7th August 1975 at 8 p.m.

Concerned about the sharp increase in the incidence of violence among youths all over the country.

It is a matter of grave concern that recently, there has been a sharp increase in the number of incidents involving among youths and teenagers in the country.

Towns which had been peaceful have been turned into warring grounds between rival gangs involving mostly teenagers. In fact, in some towns, thins have become so bad that in certain areas of these towns, the people dare not go to for fear of being involved in these incidents of violence. Continue reading Concerned about the sharp increase in the incidence of violence among youths all over the country.

The student, student politics and politics

Speech by DAP Secretary-General and Member of Parliament for Bandar Melaka, Mr. Lim Kit Siang, at a forum on “The student, student politics and politics” organised by the University of Malaya Law Society on Tuesday, 5th November 1973 at 8 p.m.

The student, student politics and politics

Last month, the Thai students gave the world another demonstration of the ability of student power to bring about changes in society, and in this case, it was to bring down the corrupt and inept government of Thanom Kittikachorn.

Seven years ago, the Indonesian students led by KAMI played a major role in toppling the Sukarno regime. There are many other such examples of students-induced changes in other parts of Asia and the world.

It must be this awareness and realisation of the potential power of student idealism to challenge and expose the forces of corruption, injustice and reaction which motivated our Alliance government to enact a particularly obnoxious Act in the form of Universities and Colleges Act prohibiting university students from any form of political participation.

This is all the more unacceptable when we note that the government-appointed committee into the racial polarization and campus life of the students of the University of Malaya reported in 1970 that there was no reason to deny the right of political participation to the university students. Continue reading The student, student politics and politics

Youth and human right problems of the country

Speech by DAP Secretary-General and Member of Parliament for Bandar Melaka, Mr. Lim Kit Siang, when addressing the DAP National Youth Council meeting at 77 Road 20/9, Paramount Garden, Petaling Jaya on Sunday, 19th August 1973 at 10.30 a.m.

Malaysian youths should address themselves to the basic human right problems of the country and other fundamental political, economic, social, and cultural issues

Malaysian youths, who comprise the majority of the population, should take a keen and active interest in basic human right problems and the fundamental political, economic, social, and cultural problems which impede potentialities, capabilities and opportunities.

Basic Human Rights

One of the basic human rights of every modern man is that he should not be discriminated on any grounds whatsoever. Continue reading Youth and human right problems of the country

Razak’s Malaysian Malaysia

Speech by Opposition Leader, DAP Secretary-General and Member of Parliament of Bandar Melaka, Mr.Lim Kit Siang, at the meeting of Perak DAP State officials, branch leaders at Perak Branch in Ipoh, Perak on Sunday, 18 August 1973.at 10.30a.m.

1. Call on the Prime Minister to hold an inquiry into the problem of racial polarisation among undergraduates in the University of Malaya.

In a speech to a student leadership training seminar last year, the late Tun Dr.Ismal said that Malaysia did not belong to any one racial group and warned of the dangers of polarisation among students and under-graduates.

The problem of polarisation among students and undergraduates should be a matter of grave national concern, and should merit the attention from the highest quarters in government.

The events in the University of Malaya campus in the past week highlighted the seriousness of this problem. Continue reading Razak’s Malaysian Malaysia

DAP calls for pre-university and university education for all Malaysian youths who are academically qualified

Speech by DAP Member of Parliament for Bandar Melaka, Mr. Lim Kit Siang, in the Dewan Rakyat on the Education Ministry Estimate for 1973 on 23 rd January 1973.

On Dec, 20 last year, the Minister of Education announced in this House the government’s refusal to accord recognition to Nantah, Formosan and Indian University degrees and qualifications.

This was a great disappointment to the over 10,000 Malaysians who hold these degrees and qualifications, and to their families and relatives who have suffered and sacrificed to give their children a chance for university education.

For the whole of last year, the country was led to believe that after over a decade of discrimination, the government was at last considering the recognition of these degrees and qualifications.

The House was even told that the Ministry of Education’s Standing Committee on the Evaluation and Assessment of Foreign Degrees and Qualifications was preparing a report to the Ministry and Cabinet. Continue reading DAP calls for pre-university and university education for all Malaysian youths who are academically qualified

Calling for a youth representative in the Dewan Negara

The DAP Organising Secretary, Mr. Lim Kit Siang, today welcomed a resolution at a youth seminar in Kuala Kubu Bahru calling for a youth representative in the Dewan Negara.

Mr.Lim said the destiny of this country is in the hands of youths, as sixty per cent of our populations of close to 10 million people are under 25 years of age.

He stressed that the youths must be prepared to lead the country, by playing a more responsible role in nation-building. There must also be avenues for the youths to express their needs and aspirations, on the national arena.

Mr. Lim said the youths should not only have a Senator of their own, they should also have youths as Minister and Assistant Minister of youth, as only youths can better understand the problem of their own generation.

Mr. Lim said Inche Senu, who is 50 years old, and Engku Mohsein, who is 40 years, and who are respectively youth Minister and Assistant Minister, should give way to people who are below 35 years of age.

Mr. Lim also pointed out that many Malaysian youth movements are being led by people who are no more youths. This is cramping and stunting the development of responsibility and leadership among Malaysian youths. Continue reading Calling for a youth representative in the Dewan Negara

DAP and the Mercy Campaign

No. 77, Road 20/9,
Paramount Garden,
PETALING JAYA
10.9.68

The Editor,
Opinion,
5th Floor, Great Eastern Life Bldg,
Kuala Lumpur.

Sir,

DAP and the Mercy Campaign

“Private Eye” did a gross injustice to the DAP in his comment on the nation-wide signature campaign to save the 13 condemned youths from the death penalty, in the last issue of Opinion. Continue reading DAP and the Mercy Campaign

Reprieve of death penalty of two Perak youths

The DAP Organising Secretary, Mr. Lim Kit Siang, today (3.9.68) issued the following statement:

The hopes and prayer of humane Malaysians have been answered with the reprieve of the two condemned youths in Perak, Mohamed Sidin and Mohamed Noor bin Login — by the Raja Muda of Perak.

The country owes the Sultan of Johore, the Raja Muda of Perak and the Prime Minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman, a debt of gratitude for their ability to respond to the wishes of the people. Continue reading Reprieve of death penalty of two Perak youths

A tribute to Mrs. Lee Cheng Lai

Speech by DAP Organising Secretary, Mr. Lim Kit Siang, at the 11th Merdeka Anniversary Dinner organised by the Johore Bahru DAP Branch at the new Hong Kong Restaurant on Saturday, August 31, 1968 at 7 p.m.

Johore Bahru was one of the centres in the nation-wide campaign to save the 13 Malaysian youths condemned for consorting with Indonesian confrontation from hanging at the gallows. Continue reading A tribute to Mrs. Lee Cheng Lai